2019 Special Education Advisory ry Committee (SEAC) Report Justin - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

2019 Special Education Advisory ry Committee (SEAC) Report

Justin M. Caron, SEAC Chair

June 5, 2019

2019 SEAC Report Overview

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• This year’s SEAC report is an accurate reflection of the committee’s

interactions with our constituents, partners in the community servicing special needs students, and the Office of Special Education (OSE).

• Herein, SEAC provides the School Board members, OSE, and the

community a highlight of the committee’s accomplishments from the 2018-19 school year and recommendations for 2019-20 school year.

• Our goal is to partner with you to continue to make improvements

in the lives of the students with special needs in Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS).

Accomplishments fr from 2018-19 Report Recommendations

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• For Independence Nontraditional School, appropriate funding and support should

continue to be monitored and ultimately provided. Progress: Independence Nontraditional School opened successfully with the required funding and staff.

• Increase school administrators’ working knowledge of Individualized Education

Programs (IEPs) and Section 504 similarities and differences, as well as legal

• requirements. A detailed explanation of these two options from a student and

parent perspective should be provided by PWCS and distributed in a variety of ways. Progress: Training in the differences between the 504 and IEP process has

• ccurred for the staff who supervise special education, as well as through events

such as “Parents as Partners,” the Parent Resource Center, and Circle of Support.

Accomplishments fr from 2018-19 Report Recommendations

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• A more detailed and specific explanation of the eligibility meeting process should

be created and distributed to parents and students in multiple languages prior to eligibility meetings taking place. Progress: The “Parents as Partners” packet is under development and will be distributed beginning in the fall of 2019. This packet will contain information to assist parents with the journey through special education. It will include eligibility information, as well as many other topics and resources.

• Removal of site tours from SEAC responsibility (removed the reference of site

tours from the SEAC website late 2017).

• Completion of a thorough review, discussion, and consideration of the

2017-18 OSE external audit (see Annual Topic Areas for progress).

Accomplishments fr from 2018-19 Report Recommendations (c (continued)

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• It is recommended that the OSE continue to address staffing in order to ensure

that PWCS remains in compliance, to develop long-term plans to try to stay ahead of the growth within the county, and the increase in the number of students requiring special needs services. Progress: Regularly scheduled meetings occur between the OSE and the Office

• f Finance to ensure compliance with special education staffing requirements.
• Adoption of identified improvements to the current site-based management

methodology. Progress: There was a presentation at the beginning of the year to address site-based management where Keith Imon and Rita Goss, as well as other level associates, participated in a site-based management discussion.

2019 Top Pri riorities and Recommendations

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• Regular updates from the Superintendent and the Director of Special

Education on progress made on the audit recommendations.

• Prioritize the funding needed for the OSE to implement the recommended

modifications and improvements.

• Prioritize funding to secure additional licenses of TeachTown and additional

components of the software to enable further implementation of the application within the special education student population.

• Continue to ensure implementation/adoption of the 2017-18 audit

recommendations for any changes/improvements/additional funding requirements in the assistive technology needs of PWCS students.

Top Priorities and Recommendations (c (continued)

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• Graduation requirement update trainings continue to be offered by the

School Division outside of being placed in the Course Catalog. This information should especially be presented to all families with students who utilize an IEP and/or a 504 plan. This information can be disseminated through yearly IEP/504 plan meetings, one-on-one meetings with a school counselor, structured group meetings, and/or calls home to parents who are not able to access in-person trainings due to work schedules.

• Prince William County Parks and Recreation and the OSE collaborate and

partner as a means to provide potential after-school adapted activities for students, field trips to Parks and Recreation locations geared toward those with special needs, and potential therapeutic summer camp programs.

Top Priorities and Recommendations (c (continued)

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• Continued training of special education teachers in the Orton-Gillingham

method with opportunities for follow-up and increased opportunities for teachers to attend the “Make It, Take It” workshop that supplies necessary materials.

• More training about the nature and impact of dyslexia, deficits in

phonological processing, and the most beneficial strategies.

• Encourage collaboration between reading specialists and special

education teachers, including opportunities for training workshops to develop best practices in reading instruction.

Acknowledgements

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SEAC would like to express their gratitude to the following PWCS staff, personnel, and community partners for their time and support:

Office of Special Education

• Dr. Michelle M. Roper, Director
• Mary Jo Flood, Executive Secretary
• Cindy Carmina, Assistive Technology Coordinator
• Rebecca Yellets, Supervisor
• Rebekah Schlatter, Supervisor of Secondary Counseling

and Student Support Services Parent Resource Center

• Rhonda Tabor, Parent Coordinator

Student Learning and Accountability

• Rita Goss, Associate Superintendent

Prince William County Parks, Recreation, and Tourism

• Tracy Hannigan, Deputy Director
• Veronica Laughman, ADA Coordinator

2019 Special Education Advisory ry Committee (SEAC) Report

Justin M. Caron, SEAC Chair

June 5, 2019